Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-07
The District i'm Congress.

HILBERT & Co, Z. b. Barnum, W. NJ ShuSter a.
Sons W: G. Metzerott Co., John F. Paret, Wood
ward Lothrop, GEO. W. Cochran & Co, Brentano
"a. s. Witherbee Coz
TO KEEP THE POTOMAC CLEAR OF ICE
The enOrt to get an appropriation for the regu-
lar employment OF a tug to keep the river channel
open during extreme cold weather is now being
directed to the Senate There does not seem to be
any opposition In either house OF Congress to an
appropriation for this purpose, but the difficulty
mas oeen an absence OF any detailed information
as 10 tne amount necessary. More than a mont b
ago resolution OF Senator Mahone'S, looking to
the employment OF an ice boat referred TO the
commerce committee, and there it has remained
unnotlced But the District appropriation bill is
now pending in the Senate appropriations commit-
tee, ana II an estimate and other information is
furnlShed II is probable that an appropriation for
| an Ice boat VIII be inserted in the bill.
| CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
MI. Collins has introduced a bill in the House
! providing that every person, in the District Of
Columbia or territories, who shall inllict cruelty
upon any dumb animal, or, having charge of such
amman, snail fall to provide IL with proper food,
drink and shelter, shall be liable to fine OF not
more than $3.50 or imprisonment for one year.
THE LOCAL OPTION BILL
In the Senate to-day Mr. Rddleberger presented
petition from citizens Of Virginia in favor OF the
passage OF the Colquitt bill to authorize the people
OF the District to vote on the question OF prohibi-
| ton. Mr.. Rddleberger said he had received quite
] severe rebuke from the Temperance Alliance OF
Virginia because the ColQuitt bill had not been re-
ported back from the district committee He
wanted to say that he RiddlebergeD had not been
| member OF the District committee for more than
| whether the committee had the right to hold it
instead OF reporting 1t back.
Mr. Belmont and the Fishery Question.
| THE RETALIATION RESOLUTIONS 10 BE PUSHED IN THE
HOUSE.
| A STAR reporter asked Mr.. Belmont the chair
man of the House foreign affairs committee, to-
day what he thought of Secretary Mannings letter
with regard to the fishery question.
"Oh, it is very satisfactory indeed " he replied
''That is the most enectual way to deal with the
question"
"Will the resolution be adopted?7 asked THE
"Yes; think So We intend legislation. We
do not propose this change from the Senate reSO-
luton for the purpose OF heading OF legislation,
as has been intimated in some publications. We
prefer it because it is clear and positive and
we expect to come to an agreement with the
Senate"
The form Of resolution proposed In the Secre-
tary'S letter Is the same as that introduced by Mr.
Belmont. A meeting Of the committee will be
held as soon as the members can be got together.
1t is expected that the resolutions contained In the
Secretary'S letter mentioned elsewhere) will be
adopted without change. Mr.. Belmont has the
In the House at any time, and the disposition is to
press it to conclusion as soon as possible. 1t is
thought that IL the Senate is in earnest it Will
| agree to have the nOn-intercOurSe proclamation
| apply to all manner OF communication. The rail-
road and transportation interests which will be
II,
| TO prevent action.
Capitol Topics.
TWO NOMINATIONS SENT IN AND ONE WITHDRAWN.
The President sent the following nominations to
the Senate to-day:
E c. More, Of Missouri, to be consul general at
the City OF Mexico
}. N. Needham, of Franklin Ind, to be agent for
the Indians Of Lemhi agency in Idaho.
Thomas I. Tunstall OF Alabama, having de-
clined the appointment OF consul at AsunciOn his
nomination IS withdrawn.
THE SUBJECT OF COAST DEFENsEs
The conference committee on the fOrtthcation
appropriation bill to-day heard several persons
upon the subject of coast defence Lieut.. Zalinski
described the experiments he had been making
with his dynamite gun and outlined plan Of de-
tense based uSOn the use OF that instrument OF
| warfare, while General Benet. Col. Dana and
Capt Smith suggested methods by which the war
material now on hand may be utilized
DISCUSSING THE CONSULAR SERVICE
The House Saturday afternoon debated the con-
sular appropriation bill without reaching any ac-
tion. Mr. McCleary opposed the proposed increase
OF salaries OF consular officers and said the bill ap-
prOpriatei $500, 900 more than that OF last year
He was especially hostile to the proposed legation
building in Japan and the provision for TWO con-
Sular inspectors Ito ride with ari1ocratS, dine
with nobility and dance with Persian princes, and
to get for their trips a, 900 each and expenses"
Mr.. Cox, OF North Carolina, defended the bill
sRNHfOR MPHERsoE's EXPLANATION
In his personal explanation in the Senate Satur-
day, in reference to the report OF the judiciary
committee on the Pacific railroad matter, he said
| he stood by and emphasized the statement he was
reported to have made 'that 1t was very clear to
the true nature OF the exposure, vigorous steps
would be taken to bring the Pacific railroads to
the arter statement that it is BELIEVED that the
investigation will lead to such disclosures that
Senator stanford would be willing to resign his
seat In the Senate; that he would have to explain
his share in the Illegal expenditure OF two NIL
ion," &C. His own pleasant relations with Sena-
tor Stanford forbade his making such statement
| in relation to him. Besides he had no knowledge
Whatever OF the matter referred to.
- THE NEW DYNAMITE CRUISER.
Lieut.. Zalinsky, the inventor OF the dynamite
gun and submarine torpedo boat, called at the
room of the House committee on naval affairs Sat
urday and explained to some OF the members OF
The boat will be go feet In length, rs feet in
breadth and ~ feet draught. 1t is already build
ing in philadelphia and it is expected will be COM
pleted in five months. The model shows a tier of
Jhree-eight-inch pneumatic bow guns, whose pro-
jectiles Will be shells containing 400 pounds OF
| dynamite each. A speed OF twenty knots an hour
is guaranteed by the contractor. Lieut.. Zalinsky
exhibited photograph taken in the $1,000 part
OF second representing discharge of the dyna-
| closes curious cloud OF condensed vapor issuing
from the muZzle OF the gun, corresponding in APP
pearance to the smoke cloud resulting from dis
charge OF gunpOwder.
THE CAUCUS OF REPUBLICAN SENATORS
reassembled Saturday afternoon and the discus
sion of the subject OF revenue reduction was re-
sumed. In their effort OF the forenoon to reach
common ground on the question it was referred to
committee. That committee In the afternoon
recommended reduction Of the sugar tax and
entire repeal Of the tobacco tax. This provoked
an animated debate in which the whole tariff
revenue subject was handled. Finally the eau
Gus adjourned without reaching any conclusion.
The evident divergence OF opinion had been fully
developed. Some OF the Senators cOntended that
1t was too late In the session to do anything with
the subject; others declared that it the prov
ince OF the House to originate revenue legislation,
and that the responsibility ought be LETT with it.
Others maintained that navy should be provided
and coast defenSeS constructed before any reduc-
ttOnS Of taxation were made. There will prob
ably be renewal OF the debate at another caucus,
but there does not seem to be much probability OF
any agreement upon definite plan for cutting
down the revenue.
Senator Harrison has returned from Indiana, and
was in his seat to-day.
The District Commissioners were at the Capitol
to-day In relation to District bills pending In Con-
gress.
Representative st. Martin, OF Louisiana, who has
been dangerously Ill in New orleans for the past
month, Is slowly recovering.
The Fourth OF July claims bill was passed In the
House Saturday afternoon. IT aDprOOFiateS about